KUALA LUMPUR – The constitutional amendment Bill to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at 10 years can be retabled at any time during the next parliamentary sittings, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said today.
“We can retable the motion during either of the two remaining parliamentary meetings this year, in June and October,” he told reporters after the launch of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
The NSRC, located at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Tower 2, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Fahmi stressed that the Bill carries no implications for the government or the Prime Minister personally.
“Some lawmakers suggested that the failure to pass the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 yesterday signalled support for the Prime Minister to serve beyond 10 years.
“That is not what the Prime Minister wants, but that was the signal given, particularly by the opposition,” he said.
He added that the amendment should be viewed as an institutional reform aimed at strengthening governance and accountability, rather than as a partisan issue.
“This is about placing limits and restrictions on the Prime Minister’s term. Is accountability not important to all Members of Parliament (MPs)?” he asked.
On MPs’ attendance during the vote, Fahmi said all Pakatan Harapan representatives were present and voted in favour, while eight government MPs were absent — three from Barisan Nasional, and one each from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Bangsa Malaysia, as well as two independents.
Instructions had been issued for all government MPs to attend, and those absent must explain themselves to their respective party whips and the Government Chief Whip, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
“His expression clearly showed dissatisfaction that some government MPs were still absent despite clear instructions,” Fahmi added.
He also noted that 44 opposition MPs who were present but abstained demonstrated an unwillingness to support the term limit.
“We are not concerned about opposition attendance, but government MPs have a duty to be in Parliament during sittings,” he said.
The Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, with 146 MPs voting in favour, 44 abstaining, and 32 absent. Amendments to the Federal Constitution require at least 148 votes.
Meanwhile, Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (SAMA) urged the Madani Government to retable the Bill before the 16th General Election (GE16), warning that broader public support is crucial to prevent the reform from being dismissed as partisan.
SAMA criticised the 44 opposition MPs who abstained and the 32 absentees, including eight government backbenchers: Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Seri Saravanan (Tapah), Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau), Riduan Rubin (Tenom), Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (Libaran), Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien (Julau), and Datuk Henry Sum Agong (Lawas).
The group said the actions of these MPs had denied Malaysia the benefits of leadership renewal, clearer policy discipline, reduced concentration of power, and more orderly political succession.
It urged constituents to take note of their representatives’ voting records ahead of GE16.
SAMA also highlighted that PAS and Bersatu were signatories to the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on Political Transformation and Stability, which included a commitment to a Prime Ministerial term limit.
The group called for disciplinary action against absent government MPs and described opposition abstentions as opportunistic, while commending Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar) for supporting the Bill despite being in the opposition.
“A term limit is not about personalities, but about safeguarding the nation from unchecked power,” SAMA said in a statement today.
“History will remember those who stood for reform.” - March 3, 2026
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